B.C. paramedics in crisis: Deaths by suicide soar as a third receiving mental health treatment

CTV News

4 days ago

The union representing British Columbia's paramedics is addressing a disturbing surge in deaths by suicide among their members, and say and that as a profession they 'desperately need help.'
In a statement, The Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. says there have been'a record number of paramedic suicides in the first half of 2025.' However, they say online rumours that nine members have died by suicide this year is inaccurate, and the 'majority' of deaths were due to health issues or accidents.
They say more than 30 per cent of their members continue to work as they receive mental health treatment, while others are off due to the stressors of the job.
Read more: B.C. health-care workers at 'breaking point' seeking mental help in growing numbers
'These numbers are staggering,' said union president, Jason Jackson, said in a press release. 'We're deeply concerned that these figures are lagging indicators of the extreme workload, chronic understaffing, and an increase in call volumes our members face daily.'
B.C. Emergency Health Services has been on a hiring blitz in recent years, scrambling to shore up the number of paramedics after the provincial government scrapped standby pay and tenuous working conditions in smaller communities and established more permanent, full-time positions.
Read more: B.C. health authority posts hundreds of job openings for paramedics after months of shortages
They have had mixed results, with ambulances continuing to sit empty – sometimes even in the Lower Mainland – with staffing levels failing to keep up with high call volumes and a growing population.
Read more: B.C. paramedics issue 'public safety alert,' say ambulance staffing 'approaching critical levels'
More to come
If you or someone you know is in crisis, here are some resources that are available: